University Daily Kansan / Thursday, September 1, 1988
11
Travel
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NITE LIFE
It may not be biggest, but there's a big city 40 miles east of KU
Commentary by James Farquhar
For those already tiring of Lawrence night life, there is a bigger city about 40 minutes east that you might want to check out. All right. Kansas City may not be the biggest big city in the world. But if you have never had fun in Kansas City, you are not
If you have money to blow or someone to impress, try any restaurant on the Country Club Plaza, along Wormfell Street.
Here is a highly subjective tour through the town's night life.
Let's start off with some dinner.
Boulain's, Bristol or Starker's are for the rich But Kansas City's elite restaurants are for the adventure.
Tasso's Greek Food, 211 W. 75th St. is 30 blocks south of the Plaza. With ballet dancers and breakfast plates, Tasso's
Back at the Plaza, Japanese food is excellent at the Hibachi.
Emile's German food, on the Plaza, is a less expensive alternative with live paic music.
Skeetz Ellis and Jeanine Callaghan of Kansas City, Mo. relax at the Grantiflation Bar and Grill on the Plaza.
Kansas City is best known for its barbecue
From Hayward's in Johnson County, 11601 Anioch Road,
Barnard Ave., 1277 Brooklyn, Kansas City is covered in barbecue.
Kansas City, however, is my most popular city center.
Kansas City's most popular hot spot is Westport.
If you are south of town, Martin City, a suburb about five miles outside of the city limits, offers some of the Kansas cities with smaller towns.
The steakhouse Jess and Jim's, 135th, and Locust street, is sometimes overrated; but the 330, Rw 135th St., has some fine fried chicken. Smokestack Barbeque, 13441 Holmes Road, however, is my Martin City choice.
Within Westport's three-mile radius, along Westport Boulevard, there are many stagering concentration of shops, restaurants and bars.
Be forewarned. Westport visitors have recently seen outbreaks of vandalism and violence. And if you are not 28, you should stay away.
If you are in the mood to shake it out on the dance floor, you will not be disappointed in Westport.
Dancing types - rich dancing types - might want to check out London's.
If you like standing in clusters with a beer in hand, Kelly's Westport Inn, the Lone Star, Harris House or Stanford and Sons are KU favorites. All are within one block of each other.
Or if you want to dance to live music, near-by Blaney of Westport or the hurricane would be a good bet. The roof of the Harris House is often good for live music, as well, why choose just one; they are within a block of each other.
An out-of-the-way Westport bar with Irish folk music is Harling's *Ulpurea* Bar and Grill, 1941 A Main St. Harlingen's 230 Park Ave.
Remember, reading about night life is not as fun as being part of it.
Live music is sometimes best sitting down, though in the Westport area, The Point or the Grand Emporium are great places to hear some bands. Ida McBeth, jazz singer for the Westport band Temptation, rehearses (requests) the Point, Hear her singing before you die.
James Farquhar is an Olathe senior majoring in journalism and a Kansan staff writer.
Patrons of the Harris House in Westport dance to the Apollos.
The last game at Rovals Stadium will be Oct. 2.
Photos by Daniel Startling illustration by Dave Eames
The Grand Emporium Saloon features live music.
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